6
Februar
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In-district transfers offer opportunities
u J ennifer S itton __________
Staff Reporter
This year, between 20
and 25 students have made
an in-district transfer either
from Wilsonville High
School to West Linn High
School or from West Linn
to Wilsonville. Because
both schools are in the
same district, students
are allowed to make this
transition by completing an
application at each school's
administrative office and
having it approved by the
district. According to Roger
Woehl, superintendent,
in district students are
allowed to transfer from
one school to another
as long as there is space
available.
According to Andy
Sommer, Wilsonville
principal, the district hasn't
analyzed the percentage
of students who switch
schools in approximately
five years, but the last time
they did, the transfer rate
was equivalent to the size
of the schools — about 40%
of the transfers were to
Wilsonville and about 60%
were to WLHS. Almost
all the transfer requests
came from the Athey Creek
Middle School attendance
area near Tualatin where
students could easily travel
to either high school.
"I think students transfer
(between the two schools)
for various reasons. Most
of the time it is a matter
of where they live," Lou
Bailey, WLHS principal,
a Hu
reasons
include
the
middle schools they
attended, which school
their friends decided to
attend and convenience
of parents for pick up and
drop off. According to
Bailey, none of the transfer
students have cited sports
as their specific reason for
wanting to transfer.
"I moved to Wilsonville
for a variety of reasons,
the main being: I wanted
a change, to see what
another high school was
like. I wanted to take AP
Statistics, Psychology and
Art Media which I could
not do at West Linn. I
wanted to go to a smaller
school and one with a
variety of students," Elliot
Prince, sophomore, said. "I
am planning on returning
next year to West Linn,
because I took the classes I
needed at Wilsonville and
West Linn is much closer to
my home." Prince attended
WLHS last year, but
transferred to Wilsonville
for her sophomore year.
If students don't
generally have specific
reasons for wanting to
transfer, is it improved
academics they are looking
for? While both schools
follow the same curriculum
guidelines laid out by
the district, teachers are
given a broad range of
latitude in determining
the instructional strategies
they use to implement
the required curriculum,
according to Woehl. Even
though both schools'
test scores rate higher on
average than the rest of
the state, WLHS's overall
ranking on the 2007-08
Oregon School Report
characteristics that foster
pride in being a Lion or
Wildcat. Both schools enjoy
tremendous community
support and pride," Woehl
said.
According to last year's
School Report Card, WLHS
scored 19 points higher
than Wilsonville on SAT
scores in critical reading.
WLHS also scored eight
points higher in math
and 17 points higher in
writing. While 88.6% of
Wilsonville's staff has a
master's degree or higher,
only 84% of WLHS's staff
the two high schools is
size. Last year, WLHS
had an enrollment of
1,542 students, while
Wilsonville numbered
1,009. Even though average
class sizes for each school
are relatively equal, (the
largest difference was in
Fine Arts/Prof-Tech where
WLHS averaged 3.4 more
students per class). Some
students simply need or
want a smaller academic
environment.
"The two schools are
quite different. The class
sizes are a bit smaller in
some of my classes (at
Wilsonville). West Linn
feels a bit more lively in
atmosphere. The West Linn
ASB leadership crew does
more recognizable student
involving events. They do
an excellent job of getting
the students excited. West
Linn is 6A, and Wilsonville
is 5A. It has been fun and
interesting to travel other
places and meet kids from
other schools in 5A, after
already having d o n e it on e
C a rd is e x ce p tio n a l, w h ile
h a s th a t sa m e lev el of
y e a r in 6A ," P rin ce said .
Wilsonville is rated strong.
"Both high schools are
excellent and I am proud of
them. They have common
features that reflect the
academic excellence of
the entire district. Each
school also has unique
expertise, but Wilsonville
had 2% more classes taught
by teachers who did not
meet the federal definition
of a highly qualified
teacher.
The most significant
statistic that sets apart
Being that West Linn-
Wilsonville is one district,
Woehl says he would like
to see more interchange
between both students and
teachers from the two high
schools. The administrators
from the district meet twice
a month during the school
year and for a three day
period prior to the start
of the year. According to
Bailey, he and Sommer
communicate often about
topics such as opportunities
for students to make up
credits and the process for
AP courses.
"I would feel very
comfortable talking to any
administrator or teacher
at West Linn High School
on any issue and consider
them friends, not rivals,"
Sommer said.
Having West Linn-
Wilsonville one district
gives students more
opportunities both
academically and socially.
While both schools are
nearly equal academically
and co-curricularly, both
have their advantages and
disadvantages.
"Both schools have an
exceptional academic
program as well as a very
positive and strong co-
curricular program," Bailey
said. "I think it is good
for students to have two
high schools in the same
district where outstanding
opportunities exist at eith|||it
school."
Valentine's Day provides fun for couples, friends
u M ary W ood _____________
Staff Reporter
Flowers, chocolate,
romance. These things
are staples of Valentine's
Day that bring joy to some
and displeasure to others.
Whether you love it or
hate it, are single or in a
relationship, Valentine's
Day can cause a lot of
unnecessary stress. It
doesn't have to, though.
With an open mind and
some simple activities,
Cupid's holiday can be a
blast whether you're looking
for a cozy night with a
significant other or a day
full of fun with friends.
A classic activity for
couples on Valentine's Day
is going out for dinner at
a nice restaurant. This is
always an option, but you
can also spice it up a bit. If
the weather is decent, pack
a romantic picnic for two.
V-day is on a Saturday this
year so it could even be a
lunch date if that's what
sounds fun. There's also the
option of making dinner
together, or of one person
treating the other person to
a nice, homemade meal.
Gift-giving is also fairly
traditional for couples
on the big day, but with
the economy the way it
is there shouldn't have to
be the expectation of a big
purchase. Homemade
gifts can always be fun.
Or try creating a silly gift
exchange: set a small
price limit and come up £
with the goofiest
^
romantic gifts
you can find.
These ideas
limit stress
because
neither
person
will be
expecting
a huge,
showy
gift,
and it
leaves
room
to
appreciate each other's
crafty skills or senses of
humor, which better reflects
the value of love that
Valentine's Day is supposed
to symbolize.
The love shouldn't have
to stop at couples, though
February is a great time for
friends to show each other
they care, be it with gifts or
just spending time together.
If you and your friends
all have a favorite activity
like shopping or laser tag,
you could plan a special
day to do that together. Or,
if you're on a budget, you
can all go to a favorite fast
food restaurant and enjoy an
inexpensive and satisfying
treat together. It doesn't
necessarily have to be a
romantic or pricey activity
in order to enjoy Valentine's
Day.
Friends can also set up
a white elephant style gift
exchange to share candy or
fun trinkets, whether they're
purchased or homemade.
This is a fun way to share
something special and fun
with each other without
emptying wallets.
The main thing to think
about when it comes to
Valentine's Day is to do
something special you enjoy
with a person or people you
care about. It doesn't have
to be romantic if that's not
what sounds fun. Showing
people that they're cared
about is important every day
of the year, but celebrating
a holiday dedicated to it can
be really great, too.